Two reasons why Art House Co-op; Brooklyn Library are really an important part of my creative process. One it helps me to take my work outside of my basement hovel and find ways to discover my own creative groove via exploration. I feel I am not ready as an artist, but Art House Co-op gives me a way to share my expressions. (I am not ready because I do know my artistic voice, I am still learning and finding out what defines me as an artist.)

I was thinking what is a sketchbook?  Thanks to the World Wide Web digital sketchbooks or digitizing sketchbooks are widely available.  I use Art House Co-op projects as an opportunity to stretch in directions I would normally avoid.  However I began to think perhaps I was veering away from the true meaning and use of a sketchbook.

I was relived to discover the general dictionary description of a sketchbook might need a bit of an update.  The sketchbook itself has been elevated to its own art form.  There are many examples on the net, however it you want to see what folks are currently up to one good place to go;

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=41.

click on image to enlarge

The  Art House Sketchbook project for me is a chance to concentrate on areas that are outside my comfort zone.  Last year I had decided to just explore areas that intimidated me or made me uncomfortable.  I did a black/white theme last year in two different sketchbooks.  Albeit the book was poorly put together and because I used acrylics the images went a bit wonky, but I loved the exploration.  This year I choose two sketchbook themes I knew would challenge me to find a creative approach.

My surprised is now I am learning about 3d modeling and using digital painting programs.  I might have veered in the direction of digital painting programs, but 3d modeling!!!  The discovery has helped me with issues I have been having for long time. I wish I could use the digital stuff I am creating in the sketchbook.  I will still have to paint the images for the book.

There are artist who would model there figures in clay and or wax, then use the clay models as subjects in the work.    This process is my process, the problem modeling in clay is exhaustive work. I can’t afford live models because I do not make money yet to justify the cost.  So I like to create and used my own models.

I tried Poser, hated it.  It is a great program, but I wanted my models to look like the characters I created.  Daz 3d is another great program, but the models are standard issue male impressions of women, a load of which are sexualized.  However Sculptis allows you a block of clay and you create your own characters.  I am using Bryce to  build my cityscape and use the model for references for paintings.  Part of  what I am doing  is sketching out an idea, creating a model and painting or painting and creating the model.  I get so many ideas just creating one model.

I have started developing more of the story.  While drawing ideas come to me and I jot them down.  I have just about completed the orange outside structures of my alien environment.  I have a few decisions to make.  For example I can’t decide if I want to use pumpkin orange monochromatic scheme or red orange.  The feel of the brighter color gives the architecture more of a technical freedom, the red orange gives an impression of volitaility.

I am hoping to have at least 5 worlds. 2 worlds will be in one galaxy I think, and 3 in the other,  I think this will be a long term project I will continue to develop.

forgive grammer mistakes..okey dokey